Phone by Google: Calls with Spam Protection

Phone by Google is a calling and communication tool by Google LLC that provides spam protection, caller ID, call screening, and related dialer features for everyday phone use. It functions as a full-featured replacement for the standard dialer, bundling a visual voicemail inbox, call recording, and emergency assistance into one interface. The app has accumulated a rating of about 4.4 out of 5 from more than 52 million ratings and over five billion installs, reflecting its wide adoption since its original release in December 2015.

From a privacy standpoint, the app requests access to a broad set of permissions, including identity, contacts, location, SMS, phone, photos and media files, storage, camera, microphone, Wi-Fi connection information, and device ID and call information. Some of these are clearly necessary for a dialer, such as the microphone for calls and phone for handling them, while others, like storage or SMS, are only relevant to specific features. Users who value data minimization should review the permission list carefully after installation and grant only what they feel is essential.

The latest update, dated November 2026, refines Call Screen on Pixel devices in the US. Google Assistant now automatically screens unknown callers and filters out detected robocalls before the phone rings; if the call is legitimate, the phone rings a few moments later with useful context about who is calling and why. The app requires Android 11 or later and is available as a free download with no ads and no in-app purchases.

Key features

• Spam warnings and number blocking to reduce unwanted calls from spammers, telemarketers and scammers
• Business caller ID so you can see which company is calling before you answer
• Hold for Me, which lets Google Assistant wait on hold for toll-free calls (US only, Pixel 2 and later)
• Call Screen to answer unknown callers and filter spam automatically (automatic screening available in the US, English only)
• Visual voicemail with transcriptions, letting you view, play, save or delete messages in any order (transcription US, English only)
• Call recording with a disclosure played to everyone on the line; recordings are saved on your phone
• Emergency support that can share your location and assistance information with emergency operators without speaking (select countries only)
• Lightweight interface with dark mode to reduce battery drain and eye strain at night

How to install

1. Tap the download button on this page to get the Phone by Google APK file (about 79 MB).
2. When Android asks, allow your browser or file manager to install apps by enabling the 'Install unknown apps' setting.
3. Open the downloaded APK file from your notifications or Downloads folder.
4. Tap Install and wait for the installation to finish (Android 11 or later is required).
5. Open the app, set it as your default dialer if prompted, and review the permissions it requests.

Latest changes

The latest update to Phone by Google, released November 13, 2026, enhances Call Screen on Pixel devices in the US. The Google Assistant now automatically screens unknown callers and filters out detected robocalls before your phone rings. If it's not a robocall, your phone rings shortly after with helpful context about who is calling and why.

Phone by Google suits people who receive many spam or robocalls and want automatic screening, users who regularly call businesses and would appreciate caller ID and Hold for Me, and Android owners who prefer a Google-developed dialer with visual voicemail and call recording built in.

Open the app's Call Screen settings after installation to choose whether the Google Assistant screens unknown callers automatically or only when you tap the option, and review the permission list in your system settings to deny access to anything you are not comfortable sharing.

Phone by Google is a capable and polished dialer with genuinely useful anti-spam and assistant-powered features, though its broad permission requests and the regional limits on several functions mean it is not the right fit for everyone. If you are comfortable managing permissions and live in a supported region, it is a strong, free option.